Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Sporting CP's Morten Hjulmand reacts REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Manchester United and Manchester City are set to go head to head for Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand according to Portuguese publication A Bola. Both clubs have a personal connection with the player, given that United boss Ruben Amorim coached Hjulmand at Sporting, and City director of football Hugo Viana originally signed Hjulmand for Sporting before making the move to City.
It seems both are now keen on a reunion with the 26-year-old. Hjulmand has been an instant fan favourite at Sporting since joining in a €18m deal from Lecce in 2023. He became captain ahead of the 2024/25 season following the departure of Sebastian Coates.
Italian giants Juventus were also keen on the player and offered a fee in the region of €30-40m, but saw their advances rejected by Sporting who demanded the player’s €80m release clause to be met.
Sporting have already showed they will not be bullied in the transfer window this summer, holding firm in their demands during negotiations with Arsenal over leading goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres.
Battle of Manchester for Hjulmand
United are rebuilding after their worst ever Premier League campaign. They finished 15th in the table and scored only 44 goals in 38 matches.
The Red Devils have already completed the signings of forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and are understood to be prioritizing a central striker next. Midfield still remains a key area for Amorim however, and he seems to have has his eye on one of his former players.
Hjulmand would be reuniting with a former teammate at United as well, having playing with Manuel Ugarte at Sporting. Hjulmand in fact effectively replaced Ugarte in the Sporting team under Amorim, winning his place in the XI for his dynamism and and vision.
Hjulmand is a box-to-box midfielder who can cover ground defensively while also popping up in the attacking areas.
He is a full Denmark international, earning his first call up for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches in June of 2023 against Northern Ireland and Slovenia. He has gone on to make 19 appearances for his country.
City have already added Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijjnders to their midfield but could be set for more business should other players depart. Question marks remain over the futures of Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and James McAtee and Pep Guardiola may find himself back on the market once more.
About the Author
